Synthesis of 1-O-(N-Acetyl-α- and -β-D-Neuraminyl)-Ceramides

Abstract
3-O-Protected D-erythro-ceramides. [2(S),3(R),4E]-3-O-acetyl-2-octadecanamido-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (8), [2(S),3(R.),4E]-3-O-benzoyl-2-octadecanamido- and -tetracosanamido-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (9 and 10) were each coupled with methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-β-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylchlorid)-onate (11), and the resulting glycosides were deprotected in a step-wise manner to give the desired 1-O-(N-acetyl-α- and -β-D-neuraminyl)-ceramides (17α,β and 18α,β). respectively.